coco & color...

what could be better then coco chanel quotes...combined with color...the color of chanel polish...saw this video on the new york times website...featuring the lovely saskia de brauw...i'm loving the outfits as well...no?

click here to see the fabulous "magic fingers" video...enjoy!

photo credit

men's corner: bring on the kilties...

when i saw this pic in an article this morning...i knew exactly who to send it to...and i knew exactly what would happen...when i would get an email response...

photo credit:
jonathan grassi for the new york times

featured in the new york times..."from fairway to runway" look's like men's colorful kilties return...and with a vengeance...one of my men clients loves the details...doesn't want to wear what everyone else is wearing...and usually wants a little bit of the "not so ordinary"...for me...he is so so fun to shop for...

i love these quirky details...like the kilties...i say it over and over...but when it comes to men's fashion...it really is about the tiny details...many don't like this look...i have heard some say "something my dad would wear"...but i think they come with so much personality...would you dare?

and as i had guessed...the return email was simple:  "yes...find me a pair!"

new summer trend...going bra-less

as i've always said...not every trend is for every person...but...could there be a trend that is not for any person?

going bra-less is a tough call...i believe...in my humble opinion that there are very few women that can really pull this off...and it still look...well...presentable...

i would love to hear your thoughts on this one...as an article in the new york times surfaced...with the title..."new summer trend...going bra-less..."

photo source: getty images

men's corner: a peak into one man's closet...

walt frazier...announcer for the knick's...definitely has his own style and a wardrobe to prove it...as in the polyester cow-print suit with brown-and-black splotches...

However absurd, it fits in a menagerie of 100 or so suits that hang on five racks and with patterns of tiger stripes and leopard spots; designs of bold plaids and checks; and colors of yellow, red, salmon and orange.

Take a look at this article "walt frazier - always in style" that recently appeared in the new york times - it's a fun read!

photo credit: todd heisler, ny times

the fabulous bill cunningham...

back in april i wrote about the documentary that was out on bill cunningham new york...in my area it was only playing in one theatre in san francisco...i was determined to see it...but life jjsut kept getting in the way...and i thought for sure i was going to miss it on the big screen...and then...what do you know...it appeared at the palo alto aquarius theatre...squeal!

so...despite this being a rather busy busy week...trying to inventory and set-up the pop-up boutique for its opening this thursday...my business partner and friend adena & i decided we needed a break...and headed over to see it...

ok...i have admired this man for years and years and years...weekly...i couldn't wait for his weekly videos "on the street" featured in the new york times...he has such an eye for fashion...truly truly amazing...

this documentary...was...what word can i possibly use? he is a machine...now in his 80's...he still is on the go...full force...taking these incredible pictures of style on the street...

his humbleness...you just don't find that in people much...anymore...so refreshing...his laugh...geniuine...makes me smile when i hear it...and what you learn about this man...is that he is truly looking for style...doesn't matter who the person is...meaning...he isn't chasing celebrity...he is chasing random people...with style...

one of the things that really touched me...was when he was being talked about...how he will never put a bad picture of anyone out there...and believe me...i'm sure he's taken his share...but he sees the beauty in people...and wants to show that beauty...

this is a must see...especially for those that are into fashion...on any level...but even if you are not...it is a brilliant piece...seeing through the eyes of a true photographer...

get thee to the theatre...you will not be disappointed...

photo source

men's corner: taking the plunge...

it seems that swimwear for men is getting shorter...are you ready for that? while most men are still pretty modest or perhaps less secure about the midriff...mr ronen jehezkel of parke & ronen...a swimwear store in chelsea, ny...brought up a good point in an article in the ny times last month..."a lifeguard for before you get to the beach"

"They don't want to try on the shorter trunks because they're too revealing, and I tell them, 'What, you think those long board shorts hide your belly?' Most guys, even if they're fat, their legs look good. Why not show those? Sure, we have the long board shorts, but they're cut very narrow, for the 'spaghettini', the tall, thin guys with skinny legs. You can't put them in the short trunks - it looks like a cheerleader skirt."

the popular swim trunk seems to be reminiscent of the old gym shorts...remember those? the vintage sports references seem familiar...but fortunately...the old gym-short feature of the elastic waistband is long gone...

bottom line...it is summer...pick a great color or print...and have fun...

parke and ronen swim trunks

men's corner: the "mandal"

ok...i don't know why...but i am not a big fan of sandals for men...apparently now being called the "mandal"...and even more...not a fan of birkenstock...but apparently it is all the rage now...reading an article in the ny times...news flash...even macho toes like to breathe...

as shown in the pic below...fashion shows are sporting them as well...this one from dsquared2 in milan...

so men...what do you wear for summer? do you bring your toes out of hiding? and if so...what is your comfort zone?

as i realize it is not all about me...and my hate err...dislike for sandals for men is not relevant...if you are going to go that route...a nicely manicured foot is still in order...just saying...

photo credit: ny times

all puffed up in down...

my favorite section of the ny times is the fashion & style (big surprise...right?) and of course...i can never get enough of bill cunningham "on the street"...he basically rides his bicycle around ny city and captures people and fashion on the streets of ny (yes...i would love that job)

this last week bill cunningham did a segment on puffed coats...i have to admit...i did not realize there were so many different styles out on the streets...but the pictures prove otherwise...and he tells the history of the first down coat...interesting listen...

i seem to have been surrounded by this theme of puffed coats...as i've read about them in different blogs...my favorite being taffetadarlings AND the lovely stacy from taffetadarlings even posted a pic of herself in her puffy coat...even though she had a bad dinner experience...doesn't she look adorable?

our weather here in northern california does not really get cold enough to warrant the need for a puffy coat...but if it did...i would be sporting that red number in bill cunningham's video...nice pop of color on a gloomy grey day...

speaking of being surrounded by talks of puffed coats...my girlfriend treated herself for christmas & news year's by traveling to italy...(i know...can you stand it?) and she said that it was strange to see the puffed coats in almost every store front window...

hmmm...guess it is all the rage...do you like??

photo by lorena...in italy!

men's corner: is mad men your style?

seems that mad men is all the rage...even among the men! who knew? i love these photos that were posted in the ny times...in dressing for success, again...














photos by: Douglas Friedman for The New York Times

men's corner: classic with unexpected color...

on the street with bill cunningham from the ny times...what is he following?? men!

and...if you look real close...you will spot brad from the rachel zoe project looking ever so dapper...

for me personally...i love a man in a suit...and as bill cunningham shows...men are tweaking classic looks with unexpected color...even better! and the best part...no one look is the same...which gives you men some options!

take a look...
on the street - standouts...

accessorizing the tree...

among the figuring out what outfit to wear to what soiree...there is also the matter of decorating the tree...i call it...accessorizing the tree...after all...isn't that what we are doing? making it pretty...or i should say...prettier...

for my tree...i usually opt for glamourous & elegant...big surprise there...right? i mix my metallics...gold & silver...with a splattering of burgundy & hunter green throughout the house...simple...yet...right for me...

i also make it a point to visit union square in san francisco...to see all the beautiful window displays...and of course...my favorite...the neiman marcus tree...so high & regal...i gasp...every year that i see it...and it never ever gets old for me...

i enjoy hearing how others decorate...some get so creative...sometimes it makes me think...maybe i should change mine...but the thing is...when friends and family come over...and i hear "that tree is so you"...i know i've done my part...

i was reading an article in the the new york times titled "hey, tannenbaum, nice outfit!"...one tree in particular caught my eye...look at this creative beauty...

G. Paul Burnett/The New York Times

eric wilson wrote: Holiday displays often relate to a designer’s signature aesthetic, meaning that you are not likely ever to find a big blowup plastic Santa at a Prada store. But you may discover touches of whimsy, like the Christmas tree in the window at Oscar de la Renta (772 Madison Avenue). Actually, it’s in the shape of a ball-gown skirt on a mannequin, made for the designer by Miles Redd, the interior decorator. It’s faux fir!

i love the faux fir...creative...and the tree "skirt" idea...hmmm....maybe for next year?

so how did you accessorize your tree this year?